The matching process

If your assessment is successful you’ll be allocated a VSO placement adviser. They’ll be your main point of contact with VSO until you go overseas. Their job is to help you find the right opportunity and work with you through the administrative process.

If a suitable job is available, things may move quite quickly at this stage. But you may have to wait until the anticipated request for your skills arrives, in which case the process will take longer. Your departure and allocated job will be conditional on medical clearance from VSO and criminal records checks.

In matching you with a job, we’ll try to accommodate any personal preferences you may have. A successful match often depends on flexibility from all sides. The number of jobs for which you might be considered will depend on:

• your qualifications and experience

• the number of requests for your skills that VSO receives

• the number of volunteers with skills similar to yours.

If your placement adviser is able to match you with a job they will show you a job description. Before accepting a job you’ll be able to:

• ask your placement adviser about anything that is unclear or that concerns you

• think about your personal and professional learning needs in relation to the job

• use a VSO information or learning centre to look at briefing material

• talk to former volunteers.

We won’t expect you to accept a job unless you’re happy with it.